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The Montclair Center Business Improvement District, a nonprofit that works to bolster and promote the township's downtown district, has been named one of three 2015 winners of the National Main Street Center's Great American Main Street Award.
Each year, the National Main Street Center awards what it calls the "best examples of comprehensive commercial district revitalization." For 2015, Montclair shares the distinction with Cape Giradeau, Mo., and Rawlins, Wyo.
This year marks only the second time in the contest's 18-year history that a New Jersey town has been chosen (Westfield picked up the award in 2004).
"Montclair Center is a superb example of what we're seeing nationally: Americans, in increasing numbers, are drawn to walkable, attractive downtowns with a lively arts, shopping and restaurant scene," Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center, said in a release about the distinction.
According to the National Main Street Center, GAMSAs are given to communities exemplifying the use of the "Main Street Approach" to revitalize their downtown business districts. The approach focuses on local cultural, architectural, and business assets, as well as community pride, to bolster economic development.
Montclair was named one of 10 semifinalists in the 2015 contest last year.
"An award like this says that downtown Montclair is going places," said Luther Flurry, the executive director of Montclair BID, said at the time.
In a video about the win, state Main Street officials pointed out several features of the township's downtown area that allowed it to pull ahead in the competition, like its arts establishments and more than 85 restaurants.
"Frankly, we could not be happier," Flurry said of the award in the video.
Awesome! I think this might be a bit over the top, it seems to me that many DC-are suburbs have great downtowns comparable to Montclair's, and I'm sure many other towns dating to the mid-to-late 19th century can boast the same. Not to say Montclair isn't great, just not sure that it's one of the best in the US.
In NJ? definitely. When moving to South Jersey, I asked what towns were comparable to Montclair or Morristown, and was told to try Philadelphia.
Why, that just can't be! This other list said Montclair was the 242nd best town for Families in NJ! Why, it's almost like each of these lists was wrong!
Why, that just can't be! This other list said Montclair was the 242nd best town for Families in NJ! Why, it's almost like each of these lists was wrong!
No, it's just not possible that one of those lists could be wrong.
After all, they can be found on the internet, and as we all know...Everything on the internet is accurate!
Hmmm...Perhaps we should see how we can make those two list co-exist.
How about this solution...
Move to Pennington, but drive your children to Montclair every time you want to take a walk down a main street with them...
It's all in how the process works. Kind of like school rankings. A lot of self promotion helps with some lists, not at all for others. Best of Essex, for example, depends heavily on business owner soliciting votes. I think the Montclair BID worked hard to be included.
So can you suggest which address or at least street intersection this great down town starts with? And how far is the closest parking? My wife and I drove there but I think we did not explore the most interesting areas.
So can you suggest which address or at least street intersection this great down town starts with? And how far is the closest parking? My wife and I drove there but I think we did not explore the most interesting areas.
Just drive down Bloomfield Ave. The northernmost part of downtown is where the Montclair Art Museum is. The southernmost part is near the Glen Ridge border. And of course you have all the little side streets off Bloomfield Ave.
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